In front of me in the door was Hayley's father, as I was already used to do it check if there was anything unusual for him, but I didn't see anything, he was tired, and reeked of alcohol, he probably knew what he did to Hayley but when he tried to look for her he could not find her.
"Hayley is fine, she is here". He was taken aback, but looked like if an enormous weight has been lifted from his shoulders.
"Thank you, I don't know what happened, I have been looking for her since that same day, but she just disappeared, I was so worried"
He took my hand and started to cry, I couldn't imagine how he would feel, he lost his wife and then kicked out of the house and attacked his daughter.
"Can I see her? I promise I'm not going to do anything to her"
I was deep in thought I understood that he wanted to be sure that she was ok, but what if he loses control again?
"Mmmm Maybe… but we need to talk first"
I sat in the living room, G went out and Hope sat next to me, Hayley's father was restless.
"Where is Hayley?".
"She is in my room with Rose, but I need to explain a couple of things first".
"I don't know what happened, but I promise I won't hurt her again!!"
"It wasn't your fault the thing I want to discuss is different, what do you know about the situation we are right now?"
"The blackout?"
"Not just that… that night we were stargazing…" I explained the same story a said to Hayley, and then I told him about my eyes, I preferred to not tell him about all our powers, but I mentioned Hope's eidetic memory and my clear mind too.
"… Hayley's nature also it's a change provoked by the meteor shower, in this house me, Rose and the cat are immune to it, but Hope gets flustered and scared, and in the case of G he suffers panic attacks when he sees her".
Mr. Ryan was in deep thought and was skeptical.
"You are saying that there is something unnatural that made react like that to my daughter?"
"Yes, I know is weird, but you have felt Hayley's presence effect yourself".
"You think that if a see her I can react the same way"
"I don't know about the reaction, but what you are going to feel is going to be the same"
…
"Can I just talk to her without seeing her?"
"Let me ask her first" I went to my room Hayley was there with a frozen bottle of water.
"Hey Hayley, practicing?"
"Yeah… a can't do anything else actually". She gave a wry smile.
"Your dad came, do you want to try talking to him through the door?"
She already knew someone came but was surprised to know that it was her father, she was thinking, even if she knew that it wasn't his intention she couldn't forget the image of him knocking her out.
"He looked relieved when he knew you were ok and with us, think about it… I'll come back later to see what you want, I'll be talking with him in the meanwhile".
"Ok"
I went back to the living room and found a nervous father.
"Hayley is going to think a little"
"I only want to tell her I'm sorry, every time I remember what I've done I feel awful"
He was really affected by the situation, to be honest, I can't imagine how horrible, I would feel If I attack Hope or one of my parents, something came to my mind at that moment that has been bothering me since I heard Hayley's story.
"May I ask you something a that has been on my mind?"
"Sure".
"What happened with Mrs. Ryan? I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but if you need any help you can count on us" I knew it was something complex, but with the situation he had to do something by himself probably.
He was surprised by my question
"While I was looking around for Hayley I went to the clinic, there I asked for help but all I could get was a body bag, after what you told me I'm planning to make a grave in the garden we have in our house" he looked really sad about this situation.
"If you need anything, just say it, I'll go check on her".
I went again to see Hayley and she said she was okay.
I went to get Dante and Mr. Ryan.
I left Dante with Hayley and her father was outside the door
"Hayley?". He was shaking a little, but he wasn't out of control.
"Dad…" when I saw that there was nothing weird in his dad behavior I decided to let them talk in private.
I went into the living room where hope was.
There was nothing to do, I looked around the house and found a deck of cards, I don't know any games, but with Hope, we invented some stupid games to past the time, if anything happens I needed to go help Hayley.
Since the clocks don't work I can't be sure about how much time passed, but after a while, Hayley's father came back.
He had red eyes and was conflicted
"Everything alright?"
"I'm glad you found her"
"I do what anyone would have"
"No one did it in all that day so not anyone would have done that, Thanks"
It became a little awkward, so I decided to change the subject.
"One of our friends fainted yesterday, you mentioned the clinic, is it working?".
"It's not… is she going to be ok?"
"Yeah, I think the situation was too much for her and was exhausted, I know some basic first aid, but a second opinion would have been great if she doesn't wake up tomorrow".
"Nothing is working actually is good that you know first aid, when I was at the clinic I heard that a lot of people died that day. The clinic and the police station became a meeting point for most of the people, since there are "authorities" there the environment felt safer. I was thinking of going there with Hayley, some people went to the center of the city by themselves".
"I prefer a small group for now, it's more difficult but in this situation a prefer to be with people I can trust"
"You are right on that, where are your parents?"
"They were in a business travel in Asia, G and Rose parents too."
"Sorry, shouldn't have asked"
Hope asked at that moment
"What are your plans for now?".
"I'm not sure, I saw some people I knew in the clinic, so after I bury my wife probably I'll go there".
"We will take good care of Hayley while she is with us". I said to him.
He understood the meaning behind my words and knew I was right and that this place was the best for Hayley at least for now, but it was hard for him.
"Thanks for doing this, to be honest at beginning I was hoping to take her back home, but after what you told me I don't know what to do with her, I know this is the best place for her, so I'm leaving her in your care, promise you are going to help her in all her needs".
"I promise, I'll do the best I can to keep everyone in this house safe".
"I know you don't plan to join a larger group, but what are your plans?"
It was a good question and I have been wondering myself
"I have a couple of ideas, but I'm not decided yet, this place is safe for now I think, but the chaos is going to grow in the next weeks".
It was about time to have lunch we all went to the backyard to eat with G.
I brought food to Hayley and had lunch with her.
"Hungry?"
"Not really"
"You are eating anyway". She smiled at my response and started eating.
"So how was it?"
"It was fine, he apologize a lot of times and asked me what happened, I told him everything about that day until I woke up here, he told me a little about what he did yesterday and his plan for mom's grave"
She was speaking and trying to not show any emotion.
"Everything is going to be ok"
"Thanks Spencer, I don't know what would have happened to me if you didn't come at that moment".
"Stop thanking me if it was the other way around you would have done the same"
She seems to be thinking about it a little.
"Yeah, you are probably right, even if we haven't seen each other for a year I would have been there for you if you need it" she smiled and finished eating.
"What do you want to do?"
"I'm not sure, I love my dad, but I have to keep my distance from him and if I stay with him even if he doesn't get affected by whatever is this he will not be able to be near other people with me there. Even if most of the time I'm just talking with you or Dante, he remembers a lot of his life as a cat and has some interesting stories, and the most important I feel like this is the best place for me".